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Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV 2024
Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV is a 2024 American five-part documentary series airing on Investigation Discovery. It explores the difficult conditions within children's television from the 1990s through the 2000s, particularly focusing on Dan Schneider’s time as producer and showrunner at Nickelodeon. Episodes March 17–18 aired in 2024, with the final episode released on April 7. The series was made by Maxine Productions in collaboration with Sony Pictures Television Nonfiction and Business Insider, and draws from a 2022 Business Insider article about Nickelodeon.
Once available, the show received favorable responses from both viewers and critics, especially from those who shared negative experiences at Nickelodeon. Some reviewers noted that the documentary lacked sufficient exploration of Nickelodeon’s workplace environment. Following its release, Schneider posted an apology video on YouTube, prompting renewed conversations among former Nickelodeon stars and participants in the series. Additionally, individuals who previously supported sex offender Brian Peck after his conviction have publicly distanced themselves, influenced by the documentary's content. The program has also sparked widespread discussion online regarding how the entertainment industry treats young performers, the impact on their innocence, and the personal toll of early fame.
The series earned two nominations at the 76th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series.
Cast
- Drake Bell
- Bryan Hearne
- Mike Denton (cameraman)
- Rick Ellis (journalist)
- Virgil L. Fabian
- Leon Frierson
- Anne Henry (co-founder, BizParentz Foundation)
- Katrina Johnson (actress)
- Jenny Kilgen (writer)
- Raquel Lee
- Shane Lyons
- Alexa Nikolas
- Soledad O'Brien
- Kimmy Robertson (actress)
- Giovonnie Samuels
- Christy Stratton (writer)
- Kyle Sullivan
- Marc Summers
- Kate Taylor
- Karyn Finley Thompson (TV editor)
Crew
- Director
- Mary Robertson, Emma Schwartz
- Executive producer
- Mary Robertson, Aaron Saidman, Eli Holzman, Nicholas Carlson, Joel Stonington, Kate Taylor, Pamela Deutsch
- Cinematography
- Victor Tadashi Suarez
Details
- Production
- B17 Entertainment, Business Insider, Maxine Productions
